The Baltimore Ravens went out and paid primo money for an edge rusher this offseason by handing Trey Hendrickson a 4-year, $112 million contract — done only after their attempt to trade 2 1st-round picks for Maxx Crosby fell apart.
Their depth at edge rusher this season might end up coming from a much, much more humble place.
Undrafted rookie free agent edge rusher Ethan Burke, a 6-foot-6, 267-pound Texas product, might just be making his case for the 53-man roster after 2 preseason games.
“Ethan Burke with a HUGE forced fumble that results in a Vikings turnover,” Locked on Ravens’ Kevin Oestricher wrote on his official X account on Saturday. “He’s had an amazing day, and is making a huge case for the Ravens’ fifth OLB roster spot … Ethan Burke with ANOTHER PLAY, this time a sack. That’s at least three massive plays for Burke, who is playing himself more and more into a roster spot.”
Ethan Burke Shines as Ravens Improve to 2-0
The Ravens won, 13-3, to improve to 2-0 in the preseason as Burke finished with 3 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 2 QB hits.
“Ethan Burke balling out for the Ravens might be the least surprising thing from any of the rookie Longhorns,” The Tunnel Longhorns wrote on its official X account. “The fact that he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine never made any sense.”
“Ethan Burke making an impact doesn’t surprise me at all,” Texas reporter Justin Wells wrote on his official X account.
“How Ethan Burke went undrafted is beyond me,” Texas fan AJJ wrote on their official X account.
Unsung Hero for Sparking Texas Defense
Burke seemed destined to be an NFL Draft pick after his sophomore season, when he earned All-Big 12 honors, but spent the next 2 seasons with similar numbers … but playing in the shadow of another edge rusher and potential 2027 Top 5 pick Collin Simmons.
Over his last 3 seasons at Texas, Burke had 98 tackles, 25 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception in 41 games — that included the program’s 1st College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein predicted Burke would be a 7th-round pick or a priority free agent.
“Part-time starter with desirable traits and aggression,” Zierlein wrote before the 2026 NFL Draft. “Burke is a bit of a ‘tweener’ who might fit more cleanly as an odd-front end once he fills out his frame. His rush is too heavily reliant on effort to consistently produce pressure on the pro level. As a run defender, he attacks blocks with leveraged strikes and does a nice job of creating separation to pursue the ball. He needs to play with much better bend and a firmer anchor, though. Burke still needs refinement and bulk, but his traits could land him a backup role as a Day 3 pick.”
Burke, 23, almost certainly has his best football still ahead of him — he didn’t focus solely on football until he got to college because he was 1 of the nation’s elite lacrosse recruits in high school. He was originally committed to play lacrosse for Maryland, then committed to play both football and lacrosse for Michigan before landing with the Longhorns.
Undrafted 6-foot-6, 267-Pound Ravens Rookie Making Case for 53-Man Roster